NEW Government legislation could take away parents' freedom of choice to educate their children at home, residents signing a petition said this week.

The proposed Children, Schools and Families Bill promises “greater flexibility” in setting what pupils are taught in school.

But Latimer resident Katy Wade, who teaches her nine-year-old daughter Melody at home, says the opposite will happen.

The 37-year-old presented a petition to Amersham and Chesham MP Cheryl Gillan on Friday, which has been signed by 100 people – and it is one of around 180 due to be handed in to Parliament next Tuesday.

Ms Wade said: “It's the State trying to take control of the upbringing of children and taking it away from the parents. They are taking away the parents' right to decide. Families are in the best position to decide, not the State.

“It's about maintaining choice. Home education doesn't suit everybody and school doesn't suit everybody. In a free country you need to have a free choice.”

Under the proposals, home educators will have to be registered and inspected, and will have to apply annually to continue home educating.

Ms Wade said the responsibility for choice and support of all children through their education will be transferred to government agencies if the Bill is passed.

She said: “We can adjust the curriculum as we go along. If there's something your child doesn't understand you can spend longer than you planned on it.

“Because we have to plan for the whole year, which is difficult in itself, the children will be assessed against that plan.

“It's putting unnecessary pressure on the children, as well as ourselves. It would mean a lot of paperwork we don't currently have to do and formulate plans a year ahead.”

A display raising awareness of home education is to start at Chesham library on December 8 – the same day the various petitions are due to be presented to Parliament.

Cheryl Gillan MP said: "I have been working with several parents who home educate their children in my constituency and I am very supportive of freedom of choice for parents who wish to explore or follow the home schooling option."

Ms Wade said: “Cheryl has been very supportive of parents' freedom to choose how they educate their child and is happy to present our petition.”

Responding to the claims made by Ms Wade, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools Diana Johnson said: “We’ve always been clear that parents have the right to educate their children at home. There are no plans to change this, and we understand parents choose to home educate for a number of different reasons.

“But we know there are a small number of cases where local authorities have concerns for the safety of home educated children.

"The Government has a responsibility to make sure that the safety – and rights – of vulnerable children are protected, which is why we are looking at how we can put in place better checks and balances, so we can be confident every child is safe and learning.”